essiveplural

Essiveplural is the plural form of the essive case in languages that mark a temporary state or role with this case. The essive typically means “in the capacity of” or “as,” indicating how the noun functions or appears in a given situation rather than locating it or showing possession. It is contrasted with other cases that express location, movement, or transformation.

In Finnish, the essive is used to describe current states or roles. The essive singular is formed with the suffix -na/-nä (depending on vowel harmony), as in opettajana (as a teacher). The essive plural is formed with -ina/-inä, yielding opettajina (as teachers). Other examples follow the same pattern, such as muusikkona (as a musician) and muusikoina (as musicians). The essive is distinct from the translative case, which marks a change of state or a goal, typically with suffix -ksi, as in opettajaksi (to become a teacher).

Usage notes: the essive is commonly used with verbs of being or existing in a role, often with olla or related predicates. It can appear in noun phrases and clauses that express a temporary identity or function, not a permanent change.

Cross-linguistic context: several Finnic languages have an essive, though the exact endings and rules vary by language. In Finnish, the key plural form is -ina/-inä, while the singular is -na/-nä. The essive forms are part of the broader case system that encodes state or role rather than location or possession.